The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 10 eBook

At the Court festivities, which took place during
the session of the United Diet, I was avoided in a
marked manner both by the King and the Princess of
Prussia, though for different reasons: by the
latter because I was neither Liberal nor popular;
by the former for a reason which only became clear
to me later. When, on the reception of the deputies,
he avoided speaking to me—­when, in the Court
circle, after speaking to every one in turn, he broke
off immediately he came to me, turned his back, or
strolled away across the room—­I considered
myself justified in supposing that my attitude as
a Royalist Hotspur had exceeded the limits which the
King had fixed for himself. Only some months
later, when I reached Venice on my honeymoon, did I
discover that this explanation was incorrect.
The King, who had recognized me in the theatre, commanded
me on the following day to an audience and to dinner;
and so unexpected was this to me that my light travelling
luggage and the incapacity of the local tailor did
not admit of my appearing in correct costume.
My reception was so kindly, and the conversation,
even on political subjects, of such a nature as to
enable me to infer that my attitude in the Diet met
with his encouraging approval. The King commanded
me to call upon him in the course of the winter, and
I did so. Both on this occasion at smaller dinners
at the palace I became persuaded that I stood high
in the favor of both the King and the Queen, and that
the former, in avoiding speaking to me in public,
at the time of the session of the Diet, did not mean
to criticize my political conduct, but at the time
did not want to let others see his approval of me.

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II

VISIT TO PARIS

In the summer of 1855 Count Hatzfeldt, our ambassador
in Paris, invited me to visit the Industrial Exhibition;[32]
he still shared the belief then existent in diplomatic
circles that I was very soon to be Manteuffel’s
successor at the Foreign Office. Although the
King had entertained such an idea on and off, it was
already then known in the innermost Court circles
that a change had taken place. Count William
Redern, whom I met in Paris, told me that the ambassadors
continued to believe I was destined to be made a minister
and that he himself had also believed this; but that
the King had changed his mind—­of further
details he was ignorant. Doubtless since Ruegen.

August 15, Napoleon’s day, was celebrated among
other ways by a procession of Russian prisoners through
the streets. On the 19th the Queen of England
made her entry, and on August 25 a State ball was
given in her honor at Versailles at which I was presented
to her and to Prince Albert.